I just added DMAE (1 pill 350mg) to help wake me up. So far so good. I feel great! Not high, just very clear and alert. Much better than Taurine (one ingredient in red bull). It will probably take a week to know better that this is the one that helps. Building Serotonin and Dopamine is tiresome.

I also picked up DMAE also because I respond well to a very low 2.5 mg dose of Adderral. I have not refilled the Adderral yet because I believe it is really a poor long-term solution. None the less, it is research tested and proven to work. I have not had any for days... With some luck, my goal is to reduce usage to as-needed and use only for special occasions or a sudden unexpected missed dose or mis-hap in amino acid therapy...

The "fix first"-"fix all" solution (second only to proper diet and essential in sever cases), is to balance Serotonin and Dopamine and let all the other neurotransmitters fall into place. Apparently this is the topic of a Nobel piece prize winning work titled DARPP-32.

Today, I'm changing my ratio to meet a 1:9 ratio of 5-HTP to L-Tyrosine. So, instead of 1 each, I will take 1 HTP 100 mg and 2 Tyrosine at 500 mg/ea (1000 mg total). I'm basing these off of the starting doses for Dr Hinz's protocol. Here is one reason: Dr Kalish in his video "Balancing the Brain," 1hr 17min starting dosages are 300 mg HTP and 3000 mg Tyrosine for couple of months to several years... Finally, I supplement with B6 and Vitamin C as those are co-factors in Serotonin production and would be depleted just by taking 5-HTP.

Are these doses safe with no lab test? Try this:
INDICATIONS FOR NEUROTRANSMITTER TESTING ... When high dose amino acid therapy is being considered (above 900mg 5-HTP and
5,000mg tyrosine). "Dr. Marty Hinz NEUROTRANSMITTER TESTING GUIDELINES"

I take this to mean, under 10 pills of each per day is considered low dose and would not NECESSARILY require urine testing. I do not plan to spend that kind of money so I doubt I will ever reach that level. A good diet will ensure that my long term treatment would not require this much.

Eventually, I will find out what urine testing I can get through my insurance. According to Dr Kalish in his video "Balancing the Brain," (1:07) the tests are about $100/ea at various labs and it sounds like to me that neurosupport.com (affiliated with Dr Hinz) may be one of those labs.

Also from the same TESTING GUIDELINES:
"HIGH DOSE NEUROTRANSMITTER TESTING
“High dose” is defined as amino acid dosing where the daily amino acid intake is greater
than 900mg per day of 5-HTP or 5,000mg of tyrosine. This is known as the “8 and 8” level of
dosing (greater than 8 NeuroReplete or D5 and 8 RepleteExtra or D5 Extra per day). Getting
neurotransmitter testing on patients who are not responding fully at the “8 and 8” level” of
dosing will confirm that the patient does indeed need more amino acids in order to establish
a clinical response and to verify that you will not be overloading the system by prescribing a
dosing level higher than the “8 and 8” level."

About DMAE quoted from the web

DMAE (Dimethylaminoethenol)
"DMAE is a central nervous system stimulant with an effect similar to a mild amphetamine, although it is not a drug, but a naturally occurring substance. Structurally, DMAE is similar to choline, but it crosses the blood-brain barrier more easily than choline. Similar to choline, DMAE works to increase the levels of the excitatory neurotransmitter acetylcholine. DMAE is also found in oily fish such as anchovies, and sardines."

what is the risk for mania?

Bizi,

The literature says it can cause bipolar episodes.


M

I see this "DMAE should not be used by people who are manic depressive because it can deepen the depressive phase."

Other warnings:

[WebMd]
Deanol should not be used by people with clonic-tonic seizure disorders.
Depression: Deanol might make depression worse.
Schizophrenia: Deanol might make schizophrenia symptoms worse
Improving exercise performance: 300 to 2000 mg of deanol per day.

So far, fine for me. My depression is under control as the HTP/Tyrosine combo will ensure it says that way. I still have progress to be made in the long-term planning, becoming extroverted, impulsivity, and thinking before one speaks (or types). I believe this will all be covered by good PFC function after balancing serotonin and dopamine. The DMAE is just a short-term complement to the process. It does say there is very little research on DMAE, but everyone seems to think it is safe. I'll give it 3 weeks and try a good work out plan, it takes 3 weeks to know what it will do.

Hi,

Three weeks could be a good plan.
I hope that you feel better.

M